Priorities/Goals

MISSION STATEMENT OF THE LONG ISLAND ASSOCIATION, INC.
The mission of the Long Island Association is to lead and unify the region in order to strengthen and protect Long Island as a place to live, work, and do business.

The Long Island Association:
• Actively advocates the interests of, and promotes cooperation among, the business, labor, educational, scientific, technology, not-for-profit, and civic communities;
• Seeks to create and retain balanced economic opportunities and jobs in a clean, healthy, and safe environment; and
• As Long Island’s Chamber of Commerce, provides valuable services and programs

A. Support Economic Development

1. Support and lead the way for “Accelerate Long Island”, a new initiative designed to commercialize ideas coming out of our great research institutions in the areas of life sciences, technology, homeland security and clean energy.

2. Support the Governor’s call for local Economic Development Councils with LIA involvement on the LI Council and galvanize the region behind one strategic economic development plan for LI among all the numerous plans put forth by various institutions and organizations over the last few years.

3. Support affordable housing efforts and become more vocal on specific affordable housing projects.

4. Support more use and expansion of LI MacArthur Airport and support the LIRR’s proposed double track to MacArthur to encourage its growth as a regional airport.

5. Support efforts to create a clean energy economy on Long Island as outlined by LIA’s Energy and Environment Committee.

6. Support the Recharge NY program (formerly Power for Jobs, a low cost hydropower program for businesses looking to expand or relocate here) permanent.

7. Support the principles of the Public Higher Education Empowerment Act (PHEEA) to provide flexibility in tuition, procurement and public-private partnerships for SUNY.

8. Support Research and Development Investment Tax Credits for businesses looking to create new jobs.

9. Support “public-private partnerships” to invest in our infrastructure for roads, sewers and electric grid.

10. Support regionally significant projects and transit oriented development projects and advocate for expedited land-use and SEQRA approvals for those projects.

11. Support improvements and amendments to Excelsior Program (f/k/a/ Empire Zones).

12. Support our schools and educational institutions and their efforts to train LI’s workforce for 21st century jobs especially for returning veterans who have sacrificed so must for us.

13. Support and promote our manufacturing, defense, aerospace, exporting, commercial and recreational fishing industries and our retail economy.

14. Support our Arts and Tourism industry and promote Long Island as a great place to live, work and play.

B.  Fight for Long Island

1. Fight for our fair share of aid from Washington and Albany as LI sends billions of dollars more than we get back in federal and state aid.

2. Fight for LI’s fair share of state school aid and ensure any cuts to state aid are fairly allocated statewide.

3. Fight for LI’s fair share of NYS owned hydropower and support efforts to import Canadian hydropower to Long Island.

4. Fight for LI to keep all 5 Congressional Seats during upcoming re-apportionment process.

5. Fight for the NY Islanders to stay on LI and support efforts for a destination center on LI that can house the Islanders whether it be at
a new coliseum in Nassau County or a new facility in Suffolk County.

6. Fight to keep: “Bush tax cuts” permanent; alternative minimum tax replaced; mortgage interest deductions in place; and to let the NYS income tax surcharge expire.

C.  Fix Albany and Our Local Governments

1. Support a “Property Tax Cap” in conjunction with mandate relief for school districts and local governments.

2. Support a state “Spending Cap” in line with cost of living/inflation rate.

3. Support public pension reform efforts and move all future government employees to 401(k) type plans.

4. Oppose any new state taxes, assessments, fees and regulations especially on small businesses, utilities, telecommunications and financial services industries.

5. Support efforts to consolidate and restructure state and local governments to reduce expenses and improve efficiencies.

D. Bring Long Island Together and Try to Get Our Region to Speak With One Voice

1. Create a LI Business Group Collaborative with all the major regional business groups.

2. Create a LI Industrial Development Agency collaborative to bring all IDA’s and economic development agencies together to promote our region and work cooperatively.

3. Work with real estate communities and environmental organizations to identify what land should be protected and what land could be developed and support open space acquisition programs based on that working plan & support development projects on the other non-sensitive properties.

4. Support equality and diversity on LI and speak out against speech that breeds hatred especially against undocumented immigrants which is wrong and hurts the perception of our business region.

5. Build support for our not-for-profit organizations who have seen revenues decrease with the poor economy while the demand for their services have increased.

6. Work with organized labor to support efforts to create good paying jobs for its members and for our region.